And so finally the thing we had most been dreading and looking forward to in equal parts, has come and gone without much of the anticipated stress but leaving behind, in a cloud of dust, Hope Cottage, newly re-wired - electrically of course - duly re-plastered and awaiting re-decoration, "hopefully before Christmas" she says, or keeps repeating to herself!

The electrician, a lovely man who has, by all accounts rebuilt my trust in having people in the house to do the work we cannot, following the nightmare experience of having our boiler replaced a couple of years ago.

Martin was great to have around the house for two weeks while he replaced, removed and repaired our outdated electrics. I really missed him when he wasn't around anymore.

The funniest highlight being on the very first day when we had to call out the emergency electricians from our utility company because 'the service head was metal and open' which meant nothing to me when I relayed the above message over the phone as requested by the electrician, but like a good un by the end of the day (and with two rather large men staring into the little cupboard that housed the old fuse box, and said service head, and wondering how to get their shoulders in there to sort out the problem), I knew where it was and what it looked like for future reference.

I tell you this house is an education in itself!

One of said emergency sparkies decided he needed a 8 year old to go in the cupboard for him, to which I firmly replied my 8 year old wasn't going in any cupboard (my grandson) who sat eating tuna sandwiches with much indifference along with his sister, isn't it unique the way children take it all in their stride. No worries Nanny has 3 electricians in her house all peering into a small cupboard with an even smaller door, two of them scratching theirs heads and beginning to sweat profusely, but that's ok, pass the tuna sandwiches Nanny.

The really funny thing about the whole episode is when I remembered the following day that the top, the lid actually comes off that cupboard which would have made it all so much easier, but hey the universe had obviously decided to set these guys a challenge on this particular day, and who am I to get in the way of the universe!

Blessings,Jacki x

Sd

Taking refuge with Jasper the cat in the middle of chaos

HelloI'm Jacki Barnett and welcome to the Hope Cottage blog. I hope you enjoy your visit and will call back again soon. I use this space to let you know what's happening and about new pieces I'm working on. I would describe myself as a creative person, with a passion for vintage, and 'make do and mend'.